Liam Neeson fans say one film role 'was his worst' and also name 'best'
As Liam Neeson turns 73, fans of the actor have been debating his best and worst film roles - and there's one film that many think is his best performance by far
Legendary actor Liam Neeson, known for his iconic roles in an array of films, turns 73 tomorrow (June 7). And after taking a look back at his movie career, fans believe one performance surpasses the rest.
Throughout his illustrious career, the Ballymena-born star from Northern Ireland has made a lasting impact in notable films such as Star Wars, Men in Black, and Taken. Nevertheless, Liam Neeson fans concur that his most exceptional role to date was his powerful portrayal of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece, Schindler's List. This historical war drama tells the poignant true story of Schindler, a courageous German industrialist who bravely rescued more than a thousand predominantly Polish-Jewish refugees from the horrors of the Holocaust by offering them sanctuary in his factories during World War II.
Neeson's breathtaking performance as the heroic Schindler is undeniably unforgettable. He shared the screen with other talented actors, including Ralph Fiennes as the ruthless SS officer Amon Göth and Ben Kingsley as Schindler's trusted Jewish accountant, Itzhak Stern.
In a recent Reddit discussion where fans and cinema enthusiasts shared their opinions on Neeson's most remarkable and underwhelming roles, Schindler's List was overwhelmingly regarded as his finest hour.
One participant exclaimed: "He was Absolutely brilliant as Oscar Schindler!" Similarly, another concurred, stating: "Schindlers list was his best role."
A third also echoed this sentiment, noting: "Oscar Schindler would be his best."
Not surprisingly, Neeson's critically acclaimed performance earned him a well-deserved nomination for Best Actor at the 1994 Oscars ceremony, further solidifying the enduring impact of his remarkable portrayal of Oskar Schindler.
Some fans also rated Liam Neeson's performance in the 2008 Action/Thriller hit Taken as one of his best, where he portrays former CIA operative Brian Mills, unleashing his old skills to save his daughter and her friend from human traffickers in Paris.
However, opinions differ on the follow-up films, with many deeming the sequels among his least impressive work.
Neeson's eclectic range was highlighted as other notable performances emerged, like in 1983's Krull, Stars Wars, and the 1995 film Rob Roy, with some even cheekily nodding to his cameo in Ted 2 as a standout role where he features as a customer.
Conversely, discussions around Neeson's less stellar roles often led to his 2021 Action/Thriller The Ice Road, which garnered lukewarm reviews, scoring only 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.6/10 on IMDB. The plot follows a desperate race against time to rescue miners trapped with limited air supply in a collapsed diamond mine under thawing ice, all whilst facing an unforeseen adversary.
A Reddit user dismissively commented on The Ice Road: "Some trucker on ice roads, I couldn't be bothered to remember."
Additional roles landing on Neeson's less celebrated list included the 2010 flick Clash of the Titans and the 1999 horror movie The Haunting, with a critic remarking, "The Haunting is a terrible movie with a grossly overstated cast."
There's also speculative chatter about Neeson's upcoming part in this year's Naked Gun reboot being a misfire. Slated for release on August 8 and directed by Akiva Schaffer, Neeson steps into the role of Frank Drebin Jr, with Pamela Anderson and Busta Rhymes joining the cast.